Andriy Yusov, representative of the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, confirmed to Suspilne that the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion are conducting an operation for the "liberation of territories of the Belgorod Oblast from the so-called putin regime and pushing back the enemy to create a security zone for the protection of the civilian population of Ukraine."
Ukraine is keenly observing the events in Belgorod Oblast of russia, studying the situation, but has no direct involvement.
This was stated by Mykhailo Podoliak, advisor to the Head of the Office of the President, on his Twitter page.
"The driving political force in a totalitarian country of tightened screws inevitably becomes a partisan movement with weapons in hand. Ukraine is keenly observing the events in Belgorod Oblast of russia, studying the situation, however, it has no direct involvement. As is known, tanks are sold in any russian military market, and underground partisan units are composed of russian citizens after all," said Podoliak.
Earlier, the governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, had claimed the intrusion of a "Ukrainian sabotage-reconnaissance group" into the territory of Belgorod Oblast. He said that the "Armed Forces of russia, along with the border service, the National Guard and the FSB, are taking necessary measures to eliminate the enemy."
On the morning of May 22, the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) announced on its Telegram channel that its fighters had crossed the russian-Ukrainian border.
The channel also published four short clips. In one of them, men in military uniforms stand against the backdrop of a signpost to the village of Bezliudovka in Belgorod Oblast, in another – near the sign of the village of Churovichi in Bryansk Oblast, and in the third – near the sign of the village of Liubimovka in Kursk Oblast.
In yet another video, you can see people in military uniform in a vehicle, while someone off-camera is shouting "RVC, forward!"
In the afternoon, the Freedom of Russia Legion and the RVC claimed the "liberation" of Kozinka in Belgorod Oblast and entry into the populated point of Grayvoron.
According to Telegram channels, the deputy head of the occupational administration in the city of Grayvoron was injured.
In addition, journalist Andriy Tsaplienko reports on the crash of a russian helicopter in the Belgorod region. This information has not been officially confirmed.
The press secretary of the kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, stated that putin had been informed about attempts to infiltrate sabotage groups into the border forces of Belgorod Oblast.
"The goal of the Ukrainian sabotage in Belgorod Oblast is to divert attention from the situation on the Bakhmut axis," Peskov declared.